The Zulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa. They are located in the Natal Province in South Africa with a population of three million. Some neighboring peoples to the Zulu are Sotho, Tswana, and the San. The Zulu speak the language of Kwazulu or Nguni.

They are best known for their bright beautifully colorful beadwork and basketry. Other small carvings and some figural sculpture have been accredited to them. The Zulu architecture is complex and their dress is brightly colored clothes, which consist of beadwork. Young women's clothing is bright and very revealing. Older women's clothes are more conservative and it hides their bodies, but still is very colorful. Men's traditional clothing consists mainly of cowhide that is used to cover the bottom front and back. Women and men walk barefooted when they wear these clothes.

The Zulu believe that they are direct descendants of Zulu, whose father was an Nguni Chief from the Congo Basin.

English: Photograph of a photographic image from a...

English: King Cetshwayo kaMpande (in caption calle...

James King's sketch of King Shaka (1781 - 1828) fr...

The Zulu migrated southward to their present location sometime in the 16th century, integrating many of the San customs. During the 17th and 18th centuries, many of the most powerful chiefs made treaties and gave control of the Zulu to the British. The British adventurers were attracted to Zululand in search of trade and profit. By the middle of the 19th century, Natal, a British colony, had emerged on the southern borders of Zululand. The British were adopting a new 'foreign policy' hoping that it would bring the British colonies and the independent African tribes under common control. The British believed that the self-reliant Zulu Kingdom was a threat to their policy, so Britain's High Commissioner picked a fight with the Zulu King, Cetshwayo kaMpande, who, despite kings before him, allowed British control over his people. A war broke out in 1879...

Reviews of: "The Zulu african tribe.":

Nice expository essay but u needed to cite some facts especially at the begining of ur first paragraph when u said the zulu are the largest ethnic group in africa. That I don't believe because Nigeria has the largest ethnic group as well as it remains the most populus country in africa.

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